Automatic telephone switch



June 9, 1925.

V. F. MILLER AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed July 5; 1922 Patented June 9, 192 5.

UNITED- sures vrc'roa F. MILLER, 01? new YORK. z'issrc'nca To wns'rnnnnmcrfirc COMPANY;

INCORPORATED, or'imw YORK, 1v;

PATENT oFjFicE.

Y.,' A con'ronar'ron 01 NEW YORK.

J AUTOMATIC ELEPHONE swrrcH.

Application filed July 5,

1 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR FRED MILLER,

a citizen of the United States of America,

'residingiat New Yorkin the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Telephone Switches, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic switching apparatus and more particularly to coordinate switches-of the type adapted for establishing connections in an automatic tele 'ihone exchange system.

The invention is particularly adapted to a switching system of the, type disclosed in Patent No. 1,515,735 issued toCharles I). Goodrnm ct a'l, oir-N'ovember 18, 1924, but it will be apparent to'those skilledin the art that this invention may be applied equally well to perform other switching functions with few'changes in the operating circuit.

Theobject of this invention is to provide an. economical and improved form of coordinate switch which will be simple, durable and reliable in operation.

In accordance with the foregoing object, the principal feature of this invention resides inthe provision of anovel mechanism for selectively operating the active contacts in a coordinate switch structure comprising in general, normally disengaged active and passive contacts, a lifting arin provided with a-notChed insu-latingfcard which is adapted to operativelyengag'e the active contacts, and con-jointly operating coordinate bars for operating said arms.- Other features of invention and advantages will appear from the following detailed description and by theclaims appended hereto, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing-inwhiclrFig. 1 isa partial front assembly view of; said switch. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 showing aset ot active contactsinan operated position. Fig. 3 is 'a perspective detail view of aglifting arm together with its operating card. Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryplan view of therelative positionsot' the vertical operating bar-and a lifting arm on one of the horizontal operating bars in their normal and off-normal positions.

The sets of grid conductors comprising 1922. Serial No. 572,909.

the wires 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, 6, 7, 8, etc. are securely fastened at their ends to fixed members not shown.

Supports 9 and 10 are of insulating material and are disposed at right angles to the direction of the lengthsot the grid conductors and on' them are mounted the flexible wire contact springs 12, 1.3, 14:,15 and 16,117 1,8, 19, etc. The supports 9 and 10 may be oi? considerable length; and may carry any desired inimber ot sets of contact springs 12, 13, 14, 15, depending upon the switch capacity desired. For simplicity of illustration, however, only twosuch sets are shown on support 10 in the sectional view of y The :lree' ends of each set of contact springs 12, 13, 1 1, 15', etc., are adjusted nor mally to rest on the laterally extending arms 20, 21, 22, 23, etc., of the insulating strips of the grid conductors.

\Vith each vertical row of active contact sets there is associated a vertical rotatable bar 2 1 which is provided at one end with an arm 25 in operable engagement with the arm 26? of an armature 27 arranged to ,be attracted by an electromagnet 28 whereby the bar 2% is rotated out of its normal position against the resistance of spring 41 in response to each energiz ation of said electroinagnet. On eachvertical bar 24 there is provided a number of cams 29, each individual to a setof contact springs.

\Vith each set of grid conductors 1, 2, 3, 4:, etc, there is associated a horizontal rotatable bar 30, each of which is provided at one end with an armature 31 and an electromagnet 32 whereby the bar is. rotated from normal to off-normal position. Eachhori zontal .bar 30 is providedwit-hainumber of pivotallyarranged arms 33 which are movable in the horizontal planeandheld in non;- operatedposition by. means of springs 40. l lachot these arms carries anoperating card having a number of; obliquely disposed notches 35,36, 37, 38 .and each is adapted to be moved into. operative'relation with the active contacts, but it will be noted that normally arms 33 and card34ithereon are tr e to move in a verticalpath to one side 0? their respectively associated active contact wires.

This is true, however, onlywvliile the cam 29 associated with any arm 33is in its norill til)

mal position as shown at 39, Fig. 1, wherein the arm 3 is shown in its oil normal ineffective position.

hen the vertical bar 24: is rotated out of its normal position by electromagnet 28 the cams 29 are moved into operable engagement with associated arms 33.

Movement of bar 30 results in lifting the active contact wires through the engagement of said wires into the notches of the operating card so as to permit the active contact wires 12, 13, 14 and 15, to engage the grid conductors 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively. The obliquely disposed notches in the operating card 3st when in operative relation with the flexible wire contact springs, causes lifting arm 33 in its operated position attained through the actuation of cam 39, to deviate in its upward movement still further from its normal path, so that when the lifting arm has completed its movement the contact springs are in engagement with its associated group conductors, and the arm 33 is therefore clear of its associated cam 29 as shown in Fig. 4 thereby permitting subsequent operations of the bar 2a without disturbing any co-existing connections. The operated grid bar together with arm 33 thereon remains in their off normal position throughout the duration of the connection but the vertical bar 24 may be immediately restored to normal. The cam 29 in its operated position is entirely clear of its associated arm 33 so that any subsequent movement of said cam for the establishment of coexisting connections. is ineffective to dimturb the connection already establishi-id.

hat is claimed is 1. In a switching mechanism, sets of active conductors, sets of passive conductors, an arm having rotary and pivotal movements simultaneously for operating said active conductors, the resulting movement of said arm being in a diagonal direction, an operating card mounted on said arm, rotary bars and. means including said rotary bars for moving said arm to effect interengagement of said sets of active and passive conductors.

2. In a switching mechanism, sets of passive contacts, sets of active contacts, an arm having rotary and pivotal movements simultaneously thereby causing said arm to move in a diagonal direction, a card carried by said arm for operatively engaging said active contacts, said arm being normally movable in a path wherein it is ineffective to operate said active contacts, and means effective when operated, to cause said arm to deviate from its normal path to operate said active contacts.

In a switching mechanism. SetSyDf normally disengaged passive and active con tacts, an arm having rotary and pivotal movements simultaneously thereby causing said arm'te move in a diagonal direction for operating said active contacts, a card carried by said arm, said arm being movable in a path wherein it is ineffective to operate said active contacts, and a cam which when operated is ell ective to cause said arm to deviate from its normal path to operate said active contacts.

4C. In a switching mechanism. sets of normally disegaged active and passive contacts, an arm having rotary and pivotal movements for operating said active contacts, the resulting movement of said arm being in a diagonal direction, a card carried by sa'l arm, said card being movable in a path wherein it is ineffective to engage said active contacts, means for operating said arm, a cam, and means for moving said cam into the path of said arm whereby said arm is caused to deviate from its normal path into operative relation with said active contacts.

5. In a switching mechanism, sets of nor mally disengaged passive and active contacts, a diagonally movable arm for oper ating said active contacts, a card carried by said arm, a cam, and means for moving said cam whereby said cam is operable to cause a subsequent operation of said arm to ef fect connection between said contacts, said connection being unaffected during its continuation by subsequent operation of said cam.

6. In a coordinate switch structure, sets of passive contacts arranged in rows, sets of active contacts arranged in rows coordinate to the first mentioned rows, a rotatable bar associated with a row of active contacts, a cam fixedly attached to said bar, another rotatable bar associated with a row sive contacts, an arm carried by second mentioned bar,

a card carried by said arm for operatively engaging said active contacts in notches which correspond in number to the active contacts, means for operating the first mentioned bar to move said cam, and means foroperat-ing the second. mentioned bar to move said arm, a movement of said cam followed by a ITIOfQlllGllt of said arm being effective to move said card into operable engagement with said active contacts.

7. In a coordinate switch structure, sets of normally disengaged passive and active coin tacts arranged in coordinate rows, a pair of coordinately disposed bars for selectively operating said active contacts, a cam carried by one of said bars. a movable member carried by the other of said bars, a notched operating card carried by said member for operatively engaging said active contacts, and means for rotating said bars, said cam in its oil-normal position being disposed in the normal path of said member whereby said member in its movement from normal is caused to deviate from its normal path and by means of the notches in said card to of pas devi ate fin-therfrom its normal pathbeyond contact with the said: canrto a pointwliere a connection between the passive and ac tive contacts is establishedi a 8". Ina switching; mechanism, setsot' pas: sive. contacts, sets; of active contacts, arselective mechanism for operating said active contacts, including a rotatable. bar, arigid arm 'pivotaltv arranged on said? ban, a notched operating card 'on said: arm, an.- other rotatable bar, and a cam carried by the second rotatable bar, a movement of said cam in its off-normal position followed by a moven'ient of said arm being effective to interengage said contacts through the engagement of said card with said active contacts.

9. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of normally disengaged passive and active contacts, a selective mechanism for said contacts, including a rotatable bar, a pivotally arranged arm on said bar, a notched operating card carried by said arm, said card being adapted to be moved into engageable relation with said active contacts another rotatable bar, and a. cam arranged on the second rotatable bar, said cam when operated being effective to cause said arm to deviate from its normal path to engage and move said active contacts into engagement with said passive contacts.

10. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of coordinate rows of sets of passive and active contacts, a rotatable bar for each. row ot active contacts, and a rotatable bar for each row of passive cont-acts, each of said iirstanentioned bars being provided with a plurality of? cams, one for each set oi. pas sive contact-s associated therewith, each of said second mentioned bars being provided with a plurality of operating arms, one for each set of active contacts associated therewith, an operating card comprising obliquely parallel slots, fixedly attached to each of said operating arms, the conjoint rotation of one of each of saidbars being eflective to move said card in a diagonal direction into operative engagement with a set of active contacts, and the continued rotation, of the said second-mentioned bar being also effective to move said card in a verticaldirection to establish a connection between associated sets of active and passive con tac-ts. 7

11. In a switching mechanism, norn'ially disengaged passive and active contacts, a. selective mechanism for said contacts including a rotatable bar, an arm, a card on said arm for operatively engaging said active contacts, said arm being normally movable by the rotation of said bar in a path wherein the card does not engage the active contacts, and means selectively operable to cause said, arm to deviate from its path, during its movement from normal wherein the card engages the active contacts and effects. interengagcmcnt between said; act ve. m di-pas sivecontacts.

12: In a switchingmechanism, setsof nor: mally disengaged passive and active contacts, a selective mechanisn'itherefor includingabar, a pivotally arranged arm QlLStl-ld bar, an insulating notched card. on said arn'i for operatively engaging said; active con; tacts, means for operating said; arm. in, a pat-h effectivenelativfeto said active contacts, and means for restoring said arm in nonoperated position,

13. A coordinate switch comprising a set of passive contact members, a set oi active contact members, a pivoted arm for operating said active members a spring for returning said arm to normal, said arm having a cam surface and being normally operable inefi'ectively with respect to said active contact members, a cam, and means for moving said cam to cause a subsequent operation of said arm to be effective with respect to said active contacts.

14. In a coordinate switch structure, a set of grid conductors, a set of Wire spring contacts tensioned downwardly and coordinately disposed to said conductors, a warp in said grid arranged to support said contacts, a pivoted arm for operating said contacts and a flexible member for returning said arm to normal.

15. In a coordinate switch structure, a grid comprising a set of bare wire conductors, a set of wire spring contacts coordinately disposed to and arranged to project through said grid, an insulutivc warp in said grid arranged to support said contacts, a pivoted arm for operating said contacts, and a plurality of camminn surfaces on said arm for effecting a rubbing connection be tween said conductors and contacts.

16. In a coordinate switch structure, a grid comprising a set of conductors, a set of wire spring contacts tensioned downwardly, a pivoted arm for operating said contacts, a warp in said grid for supporting said contacts in non-operated position arranged to position said contacts when said arm is released, an insulative member provided with plurality of camming surfaces fixedly attached to said arm and arranged to be normally operable inefi'ect-ively with respect to said contacts. a cam, means for moving said cam to cause a subsequent operation of said arm to be effective with respect to said contacts, and a resilient member for restoring said arm to normal.

17. A coordinate switch comprising sets of contacts, a selective mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating bars, a pivoted member on one of said bars, normally rotatable in a path ineffective to establish a connection between said contacts, means on the other of said bars for causing said pivoted mally rotatable in a path inefl'ective to establish a connection between said contacts, means selectively operable to cause said cam to position itseli in the path of said pivoted member to eflect a connection, and a resilient member attached to said bars for returning said pivoted member to normal when the bars are released.

In witness whereof, ,I hereunto subscribe 20 my name this 1st day of J uly A. D., 1922. VICTOR F. MILLER. 

